A Republican who’s worked for Iowa politicians Chuck Grassley and Jim Lightfoot as well as presidential candidates Elizabeth Dole and Steve Forbes has decided to seek elected office himself.
Forty-one-year-old Monte Shaw of West Des Moines is running for Iowa’s third district congressional seat, after Congressman Tom Latham’s surprise retirement announcement he wouldn’t seek reelection this November.
“We just think it’s an opportunity to continue, basically, 20 years of advocacy on behalf of Iowa,” Shaw says. “That’s how I’ve spent my life and we think this is an opportunity to do it on a bigger stage.”
Shaw has been the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association since 2005. He’s a native of Shenandoah.
“I’ve got a conservative background. I’ve worked with Jim Lightfoot. I’ve worked with Steve Forbes. I’ve worked on behalf of seniors out in D.C. on the Special Committee on Aging with Senator Grassley, so I think I bring some unique background and experience and we can put that together to try to turn the government around,” Shaw says. “It’s headed in the wrong direction as far as I’m concerned.”
Shaw was in Atlantic tonight, visiting with Cass County Republicans. Three other Republican candidates have announced they’re running in the district. Matt Schultz, Iowa’s Secretary of State, announced last week he’s running for congress. In late December, David Young — a former Grassley aide — announced he was ending his bid for the U.S. Senate and would run for Latham’s seat in the House instead. Joe Grananette, a P.E. teacher in Des Moines, announced this fall he was running in the district.